The Project

Aligning streetscape improvements with infrastructure repairs

Since 2005, the BIA has been working with the councillor's office, city staff and community groups to seek streetscape improvements above the basic streetcar track, sidewalk and water service repair project that is currently planned for 2009-10. The BIA's 2003 Streetscape Strategy, developed in consultation with businesses and the community, has served as a basis for our streetscape proposals. It is not the final vision, but represents the beginning of a dialogue between our community and the City.

Roncesvalles Renewed is a joint community committee that was formed with representatives from the BIA, the High Park Residents' Association, the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents' Association, the Sunnyside Community Association, Councillor Gord Perks' office and other other community members. Roncesvalles Renewed also includes local, volunteer professionals with a background in architecture, design and urban planning, who have helped to inform the BIA and respond to many of the technical issues that have been raised during the process. By presenting a unified community voice, Roncesvalles Renewed has succeeded in bringing City staff and the TTC to the table to discuss an enhanced streetscape project. 

Priorities

Based on the BIA's streetscape document, and following other consultations with business and community groups, Roncesvalles Renewed has idenitified four streetscape priorities it hopes to see added to the 2009-10 project:

1. A Living Sidewalk with Healthy Trees

The project would integrate Roncesvalles' stormwater sewer with an innovative new tree planting systemthat would finally allow urban trees to grow to maturity, instead of dying within 5-10 years of age. Sidewalks, instead of acting like funnels channelling water rapidly into our combined sewers, would become massive absorption pads, sucking up huge amounts of water and reducing the frequency of raw sewage overflows into our lake. In addition, mature urban trees will provide shade, cool the street and absorb 15 times as much carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants as the same tree in a rural setting. And of course, trees are beautiful and well-loved. It is a cost-effective solution that beautifully and efficiently integrates the urban and natural environments.

2. New and enhanced public spaces

Widened sidewalks and curb extensions would allow for new public uses such as patios, merchandise displays, benches, gardens or public art. In some cases, these "bumpouts" would allow TTC riders to board the streetcar without crossing a lane of traffic. Such a plan would change Roncesvalles into a street that prioritizes transit, cycling and pedestrian uses over car traffic and parking. This is in line with City policy, as well as the BIA’s streetscape strategy of 2003. While the BIA will seek to preserve parking where possible, the plain fact is that Roncesvalles will never be able to compete with other shopping areas on parking availability. But Roncesvalles can offer something that a mall never can: a pleasant and distinct experience for shoppers who walk, cycle or ride the streetcar.

3. Improved sidewalk standards

While opening up new public space, curb extensions would also reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians, improving safety and accessibility. Physical design features such as distinct paving can make crosswalks intuitively obvious to drivers that already have to cope with an excess of lines and signs. The reconstruction also offers us an opportunity to flatten our multi-level sidewalks, which have caused so many accidents. And finally, smart road design can help encourage motorists to slow down and share the road, making the street safer for pedestrians, cyclists, TTC riders and drivers.

4. Distinctive entrances at the north and south ends of Roncesvalles

Open spaces at Boustead and Queen provide opportunities for design treatments that announce the entrance to our neighborhood. These public gathering places could feature public art, landscaping and special lighting.

Similar features have been incorporated into other reconstruction projects, such as on College Street and St. Clair. However, by getting involved in the process early, Roncesvalles Renewed gives the community a better voice and more ownership of the reconstruction process, avoiding the misunderstandings and confusion that can mar such large street projects. 

Proposals for Roncesvalles 

Initially, a key streetscape priority for the BIA and the community was the creation of bumpouts, or extensions of the sidewalk onto the street. These would become new public spaces, allowing for new uses such as patios, benches, gardens or public art. It is hoped that such bumpouts would become part of the major Roncesvalles reconstruction now scheduled to start in June 2009.

In May 2007, the City unveiled a preliminary proposal that called for bumpouts at just about every corner along Roncesvalles, onto the side streets but also the main street itself. An advantage of the City’s proposal was that the bumpouts that encroached onto Roncesvalles would not greatly affect existing parking along the street. The BIA also liked the fact that the plan would increase access to parking by removing a peak period traffic lane (the southbound parking lane has no parking during rush hour).

A disadvantage is that these bumpouts would prevent cars from passing or turning right without blocking the streetcar. As a result, the TTC was concerned that the bumpouts onto Roncesvalles might slow down the 504 streetcar, the busiest in Toronto. (The bumpouts onto the side streets pose no problem with anyone, as far as we can tell.)

In July 2007, the TTC presented a counter-proposal. It also has many advantages. For pedestrians, that proposal would add far more sidewalk space. For some restaurants, it would open the possibility of true sidewalk patios along the main street itself. Other businesses may welcome the ability to add new sidewalk displays. Disembarking from the streetcar onto a curb is a significant safety and accessibility feature.

However, that plan also required the loss of a significant number of existing parking spaces along Roncesvalles. That plan would also remove the northbound left turn at Howard Park (and perhaps other intersections).

Photo: TTC Widening the Sidewalk: A proposal by the TTC suggested widening the sidewalk in order to allow riders to step from the streetcar onto the curb. This would allow greater use of the sidewalk, including patios and merchandise displays. However, it would significantly reduce street parking.

Representatives of the BIA, the three neighboring residents’ associations and Roncesvalles Renewed met with City and TTC staff at Councillor Gord Perks‘ office to discuss the two proposals. The community representatives were unified in their response, excited by the prospect of new public space, but with some concerns. Along with Councillor Perks, we urged the City and the TTC to ensure that their plan

• enhances public space,
• minimizes the loss of on-street parking,
• examines alternatives to total left-turn prohibitions, and
• considers the impact of traffic restrictions on local neighborhoods and side streets.

Two new proposals were presented at the Public Open House Meeting on March 23, 2009 as part of the Environmental Assessment which the city had to undertake. These have been presented in order to create a dialogue and to help confirm the principles for a more comprehensive plan.

What is important to you? Please have a look at the TTC’s 2007 proposal and the latest 2009 Environmental Assessment Concepts to consider how you would best balance the needs of businesses, pedestrians, transit riders, shoppers, residents and other stakeholders. Review and join the discussions on key issues.